Among high-ranking members of the US Republican Party, the idea of a military response to drug trafficking coming from Mexico is growing in popularity, the Politico newspaper writes.
According to the publication, in recent weeks, former President Donald Trump has announced the possible dispatch of special forces or the transition to a cyber war against cartel leaders if he is re-elected to this position in 2024. According to sources of The Rolling Stone, the politician asked advisers about the possibility of unilateral strikes or the deployment of troops in a neighboring state.
Republican Congressmen Dan Crenshaw and Mike Waltz proposed a bill to use US military force against Mexican cartels. In turn, Republican Senator Tom Cotton said he was ready to approve the introduction of American troops into Mexico to fight drug cartels even without the permission of a neighboring state, and a group of congressmen from both houses proposed to recognize some cartels as terrorist organizations.
However, not all Republicans support this approach. In particular, Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton, who is considering running in the election, said that unilateral military action “will not solve the problem.” Republican House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCall is considering an authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) proposal but is concerned about the future of U.S.-Mexico relations.
Democrats reject ideas related to military action against the cartels. President Joe Biden rules out the start of military operations in Mexico or the recognition of drug cartels as terrorist organizations, the newspaper writes, citing National Security Council spokesman Adrienne Watson. The head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, told Defense One in March that the fight against the drug trade is the task of law enforcement, not the military, and the United States should not send troops to Mexico without the consent of the authorities of that country.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
